Madhur Bhandarkar summoned on Nov 14 in Preeti Jain rape case!

Director Madhur Bhandarkar, Preeti Jain

Director Madhur Bhandarkar, President

Director Madhur Bhandarkar

A Mumbai court directed National Award-winning film director Madhur Bhandarkar to appear before it Nov 14 in connection with a 2004 rape case filed by Pretti Jaiin, a forthcoming celebrity, her lawyer told.

'He failed to appear before the court at the scheduled hearing. We don't know where he is. Now, he is required to appear Nov 14,' Jaiin's lawyer S. Kunjuraman said.

Bhandarkar, 44, had sought an exemption from the court hearing Tuesday through his lawyer Shrikant Shivade. He previously told that he would challenge the rape case against him in a higher court.

Magistrate B.B. Pantawane, of

Andheri Railway Mobile Court

, Sep 19 issued summons asking Bhandarkar to appear before it and file his statement in the case, Kunjuraman told.

Police in 2006 requested the court to dismiss the case against Bhandarkar as during their investigations they found Pretti's allegations false.

In July 2004, Pretti, living in Malad suburb of north Mumbai, created a sensation after she accused Bhandarkar of rape on the pretext of giving her a lead role in his movie.

Pretti alleged that she slept with Bhandarkar from 1999-2004 as he promised her a role in his movies and wedding.

In a statement later, Pretti, in her early 30s, alleged, 'We had sex 16 times and Madhur made promises of giving me a lead role in his movies. However, he didn't offer me a lead role in any of his movies. At times when I refused, he raped me.'

In September 2005, Pretti was arrested after she seemingly hired a contract killer for Rs.70,000 to murder Bhandarkar.

Bhandarkar, is credited with making sensitive, critically acclaimed and box-office hit movies like 'Chandni Bar', 'Page 3', 'Traffic Signal', 'Corporate' and 'Fashion', among others.